Librarian II

City of Stockton•Stockton, CA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking three (3) Librarian II positions to lead branch operations at the Tracy Branch Library, Manteca Branch Library, and the Ursula Meyer Library and Community Center. The Stockton San Joaquin County Public Library serves diverse and growing communities across 17 branches and a bookmobile. This role is ideal for librarians who are excited by change, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to help shape the future of library service in Stockton and San Joaquin County. This is an exciting opportunity for innovative librarians who are excited to reimagine library services and explore new ways to connect with the community. We are looking for collaborative leaders who are comfortable leading change, committed to excellent customer service, and eager to develop programs, services, and partnerships that connect people with information, imagination, ideas, technology, and one another. As branch leaders, Librarian IIs are responsible for overseeing daily operations, supervising and mentoring staff, fostering a positive and accountable team culture, and ensuring that the library remains a welcoming and responsive community resource. Successful candidates will be comfortable making decisions, thinking creatively about service delivery, using data to inform their work, and building strong relationships and building partnerships. The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library is part of the City of Stockton’s Community Services Department, which also includes Recreation and other community-focused services. Librarian IIs work closely with Library Managers and Department leadership to implement strategic priorities while tailoring services to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve. We are seeking leaders who value collaboration, are willing to break down silos, and embrace opportunities to work across departments to better serve our residents. Ursula Meyer Library and Community Center: Our newest library location, opened in April 2026 offers a unique opportunity to help shape services in a beautiful new facility. The Librarian II works closely with Recreation staff and community partners to deliver innovative, integrated services that support literacy, learning, and community engagement. This role is especially well suited for a collaborative leader who is energized by the shared goals of libraries and recreation and excited by the opportunity to create programs and services that bring those connections to life. Tracy Branch Library: Located in the fast-growing city of Tracy, this is an opportunity to lead one of the system’s busiest libraries, providing an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships with City leaders and to partner with an active Friends of the Library group to expand programs, advocacy, and community support. Tracy combines a welcoming small-town feel with the energy and opportunity of a rapidly growing community, making it an ideal setting for a librarian who is eager to build partnerships and help grow library services. Manteca Branch Library: Located in the rapidly growing city of Manteca, this is one of the system’s fastest-growing libraries, with strong increases in circulation, program attendance, and community use. This position offers the opportunity to build on that momentum. Manteca is an ideal opportunity for a Librarian II who is energized by growth and excited to expand services in a thriving community.

Requirements

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Possession of a Master’s degree in Library Science from a school of Librarianship accredited by the American Library Association.
One year of experience as a professional librarian.
Must possess a valid California Driver’s License within six months of appointment.
Knowledge of principles and practices of professional library objectives, organization, and procedures.
Knowledge of community needs and their relationship to public library programs and services.
Knowledge of reference sources and search techniques.
Knowledge of the theory and philosophy of library services.
Knowledge of current reading, viewing, and listening interests of children, teens, and adults.
Knowledge of books, authors, online databases, and reference sources in a variety of areas and formats.
Knowledge of readers’ advisory methods and practices.
Knowledge of current trends in technology and electronic resources with application to library services.
Knowledge of automated library information systems and equipment usage.
Knowledge of collection development, including book, electronic, and nonprint materials selection.
Knowledge of cataloging and classifying procedures for varied materials.
Skill in basic library principles and practices.
Skill in providing effective customer service.
Skill in dealing tactfully and courteously with the public.
Skill in communicating effectively with diverse community members and co-workers.
Skill in enforcing library rules and assisting library staff with safety and security.
Skill in utilizing current technology and traditional resources to meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the community.
Skill in using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
Skill in planning, directing, and reviewing the work of assigned staff.
Skill in applying professional knowledge, skills, and flexibility to creatively develop and implement services in a rapidly changing community, professional, and technological environment.
Skill in searching print and digital reference and readers’ advisory resources, including specialized materials in assigned work areas.
Skill in establishing and maintaining an effective working relationship with a variety of library customers, community groups, and others contacted in the course of the work.
Skill in preparing and producing effective oral and visual presentations.
Skill in basic supervisory principles and practices.
Skill in accurately assessing library customer needs and providing appropriate service responses.
Skill in library collections and collection management.
Skill in coalition-building to support literacy initiatives.
Skill in community needs assessment, outreach, programming, project management, and evaluation techniques and methods.
Skill in keeping up with library and demographic trends to ensure the library is contemporary and utilizing best practices.
Skill in formulating and developing new or improved library programs and services, and assisting in the evaluation of existing programs.
Skill in aligning departmental goals and objectives with City Council goals.
Skill in training, motivating, and evaluating assigned staff.
Ability to concentrate, make decisions, work with the public, exercise sound judgment, handle stressful situations, and work alone.
Ability to understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information.
Ability to understand, remember, and communicate routine, factual information.
Ability to understand complex problems and to collaborate and explore alternative solutions.
Ability to understand opposing points of view on highly complex issues and to negotiate and integrate different viewpoints.
Ability to organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology.
Ability to organize and prioritize own work schedule and work schedules of others on short-term (up to one month) and long-term basis.
Ability to apply common sense in performing job.
Ability to make decisions which have impact on immediate work unit and monitor impact outside immediate work unit.
Ability to make decisions which have impact on the department’s credibility, operations, and services.
Ability to understand and follow basic instructions and guidelines.
Ability to complete routine forms.
Ability to communicate effectively with others, including over the phone.
Ability to speak in front of groups of people, including making presentations outside the immediate work area.
Ability to compose reports, manuals, and publications.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading branch operations.
Excited by change.
Thrive in a collaborative environment.
Help shape the future of library service.
Reimagine library services.
Explore new ways to connect with the community.
Comfortable leading change.
Committed to excellent customer service.
Eager to develop programs, services, and partnerships.
Comfortable making decisions.
Thinking creatively about service delivery.
Using data to inform work.
Building strong relationships.
Building partnerships.
Willing to break down silos.
Embrace opportunities to work across departments.
Experience working closely with Recreation staff and community partners.
Energized by the shared goals of libraries and recreation.
Excited by the opportunity to create programs and services that bring those connections to life.
Experience leading one of the system’s busiest libraries.
Eager to build partnerships and help grow library services.
Energized by growth.
Excited to expand services in a thriving community.

Responsibilities

Overseeing daily operations of a branch library.
Supervising and mentoring staff.
Fostering a positive and accountable team culture.
Ensuring the library remains a welcoming and responsive community resource.
Making decisions and thinking creatively about service delivery.
Using data to inform work.
Building strong relationships and partnerships.
Implementing strategic priorities and tailoring services to meet community needs.
Collaborating across departments.
Delivering innovative, integrated services that support literacy, learning, and community engagement (Ursula Meyer Library).
Strengthening relationships with City leaders and partnering with Friends of the Library (Tracy Branch Library).
Expanding programs, advocacy, and community support (Tracy Branch Library).
Building on momentum and expanding services in a thriving community (Manteca Branch Library).
Provides information services and guidance to library customers in the selection, organization, and interpretation of library materials, and in the effective use of equipment and facilities.
Reviews, evaluates, and selects materials for addition to or deletion from the collections.
Builds and maintains expertise in a wide range of resources and technologies to serve the diverse needs of the community.
Plans, promotes, and presents effective library programming for all age groups and community interests.
Presents book discussions and story times in the library, community venues, and/or virtual platforms.
Develops partnerships with local organizations and constituencies to support education and promote library services throughout the community.
Interprets library policies and procedures to the public; may represent the library in meetings with citizens, library support/advocacy groups, or special community interest groups.
Creates, develops, prepares, and disseminates effective marketing materials for library programs and services.
Maintains awareness of current technology trends and innovations and how they can be incorporated into services for the community and professional development of staff.
May perform oversight duties in the absence of lead professional library staff.
May plan and direct the work of paraprofessional or support staff and part time staff; may direct the work of limited hours branches or support units of the library.
Plans, supervises, evaluates, and directs the work of library professionals, paraprofessionals, and support staff.
Trains and coaches staff and makes other personnel decisions.
May assist in the selections and development of staff.
Prepares and conducts performance evaluations as determined by specified positions.
May monitor a program budget.